Truth

There's just something about this picture that resonates truth so strongly. But truth in a vacuum is not actual truth. Only when the author of truth enters the picture does truth become reality.

Any thoughts?

The Greatest

Once I wanted to be the greatest
No wind or waterfall could stall me
And then came the rush of the flood
Stars of night turned deep to dust
* * *
Once I wanted to be the greatest
Two fists of solid rock
With brains that could explain
Any feeling

Cat Power . The Greatest [Follow link to MP3]

orar> to pray

I believe in Jesus.

Not because I've read about him in a book.

Not because I've heard others tell me amazing stories about his life.

And not even because he will grant me eternal life one day.

I believe in Jesus because he has wispered deep into my soul.

I believe in the power of prayer.

Not because I've read about it in a book.

Not because its done numerous times during a worship service.

And not even because it was modeled by Christ in the garden.

I believe in the power of prayer because I believe in the power of Jesus.

Complete & Utter Randomness

Sometimes I feel as if my life has been reduced to ironing and MP3s.

Okay...I'm being a bit dramatic, but I've been known to have such tendencies.

Anyway, Miller (and friends) are discussing the dilemma the church faces given the fact that our pastors are paid by those sitting in the pews -- an inherent conflict of interest, especially when our pastors actually work for God (and not the patrons of the church).

Besides a few thoughts I've offered on the subject, I've been thinking a lot about the very things I write about on this blog. It seems to me there was this point where I stopped writing for myself, and started writing for my audience. Or, more accurately, began thinking about it a lot more than I did when I first began. I'm approaching a year in the game now and have actually thought about giving it up for a while. But I have this fear that like the moment I make a decision like that, a million and one thoughts will like fly into my mind and I'll go nuts keeping the lid on.

I think the angst has something to do with the stuff I never write about because I figure no one will be interested. So I'm gonna remedy that situation right here and now. You know, like get it out of my system (and then move on)!


So back in my college days I used to be an underground party kid, or as the news media called us, a raver. Yes, those kind of raves -- with drugs, uni-sex bathrooms and lots of "freedom." But here's the thing -- I never went for any of that. I was there for the music and the dancing. It was always a spiritual thing for me in the sense that when your dripping with sweat, your heart's pounding at 180 beats per minute, the glo-sticks are floatin' and the bass of the techno is playing pong inside your head, there comes a certain amount of clarity that there is something much higher in this life.

Although I never entirely stopped listening to the music, the fact that I wasn't dancing and going to parties anymore attributed to a loss of appeal. But there are some guys in France that have like just been completely throwing down this amazing blend that is most commonly called dirty electro. Those "in the know" use words like "bangers" to describe such tracks and add that they will completely destroy the dancefloors, which innocently means it'll get the kids dancin! So I'll stop talking already and hit ya up with my two favorite "bangers" at the moment. See ya on the dancefloor.

Robbie Williams - Lovelight (Soulwax Ravelight Dub) [Follow link to MP3]
SebastiAn - Walkman [Follow link to MP3]

And if by some odd chance you actually like either of these tracks, drop me a comment or email and let me know. I'd be happy to point you to more of it.

Ed. Note: I'll be back to my (ab)normal self the next time I post. I promise.

Between Darkness & Light

Did it ever hit you that we live on a plane between darkness and light?

A very thin plane.

Tonight I thank the Lord for revealing the darkness of my heart.

I thank Him for choosing not to remove it completely from my life.

I thank Him for letting me struggle with it on a number of different levels.

For Light is more appreciated in darkness.

Inspiration...

Currently Reading:
Story: Recapturing The Mystery
by Steven James
This is the story of God and His people told through narrative, poetry and scripture, all of which are intermixed perfectly, giving the reader the tools necessary to discover (or maybe rediscover) the beautiful mystery of our God.



Currently Listening To:
David Crowder Band . A Collision
I truly cannot say enough about this album. It's uber-creative and just offers such a fresh take on what modern worship music should be. And they hit every emotion on this album -- from the heights of Here Is Our King to the heartfelt contemplation that explodes to exuberance in Come Awake.

Current Life Quote:
"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do." -Edgar Degas

Country Music Theology

I lost a bet the other week.

A friend beat me in a game of H-O-R-S-E.

So...I had to listen to country music for a week, whenever I was in my car (which is not a small feat, considering I spend about an hour commuting every day).

At times, it was rough. Like after a long day, instead of being greated by a long time friend like Thom Yorke (of Radiohead), I had to spend time with some strangers, whose experiences and realities are just so different than mine.

At times, I smiled. My dirty little secret is that I used to listen to country for about two years when I was in high school. So when a "classic" was played that I recognized, it took me back to those days. And yes, I was singing right along with the radio.

Overall, the week wasn't that bad. I even took home some pretty good life lessons that apply across the board -- regardless of your background...

I raise my hands, bow my head
I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see
I believe
-Brooks & Dunn, Believe

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin to the Man upstairs
That just because He doesn't answer doesn't mean He don't care
Some of Gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
-Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers

If you're going through hell
Keep on going, Don't slow down
Yeah, If you're going through hell
Keep on moving, Face that fire
Walk right through it
-Rodney Atkins, If You're Going Through Hell

Wake Up, O Sleeper

[E]verything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise…because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. [Ephesians 4:13-17]

Night is weighing heavy now
Be quiet and wait for a voice that will say

Come awake, from sleep arise
You were dead, become alive
Wake up, wake up, open your eyes
Climb from your grave into the light

Bring us back to life

-David Crowder Band . Come Awake [follow link to MP3]

The Information

Beck . The Information

This is the latest album from Beck, who is one of my favorite artists. I'm not gonna review the album or anything, other than to say its typical Beck in that you never know what to expect. He is, hands down, the most innovative artist in the music industry, and one of the most innovative in the world of art in general.

And I add that last phrase in there because the album artwork for this album is mind-blowingly innovative. The purchaser gets a blank slate -- okay, actually its glossy graph paper (like you used to use in math class) and a sheet of stickers. Yeah, I said stickers!! So the cover (above) is my handy work (I'm a minimalist), as well as the inside work below (with a little help from a friend on the art direction!).

(As always, click pic to enlarge)

Harvest Moon

Tomorrow night marks the annual rising of the Harvest Moon.

As NASA eloquently explains: "Not so long ago, before electric lights, farmers relied on moonlight to harvest autumn crops. With everything ripening at once, there was too much work to do to stop at sundown. A bright full moon — a "Harvest Moon" — allowed work to continue into the night."

This reminded me of a book I recently read, Red Moon Rising: How 24-7 Prayer is Awakening a Generation. It's premised on a vision of unrelenting prayer. So much prayer that God would be unable to rest. On the night the movement was launched, a red moon -- a full, harvest moon -- hung in the sky. It's founder explained that, symbolically, it gave purpose to the movement: "I tell you," Jesus said, "open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35) or as the Apostle Paul put it: "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

I'm not sure what you're doing tomorrow night (Oct. 6) around 11:13 p.m. (Eastern) -- the time when the moon will be completly full -- but I hope to be in a field somewhere praying under the harvest moon.

For there is much work to be done...

Now is the day of salvation.

innocence lost

innocence lost

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."